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(Model.)

E. L. STEELE.

SLEIGH BOLSTER.

No. 243,992. Patented July 5,1881;

WITNBs'sEs: INVENTOB.:

` BYY/wlmm? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE0 HERBERT L. STEELE, OF EAST BLOOMFIELD, NEW YORK.

SLEIGH-BOLSTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,992, dated July 5, 1881. Application filed November 20, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it knownthat I, HERBERT L. STEELE, of East Bloomfield, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Sleigh-Holster, ot' which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to render a sleigh less liable to upset, and to make it run more easily with less wear on the box.

The invention is especially designed for bobsleighs; and it consists ot a rear bolster whose ends are held in slotted blocks that are secured upon the raves ot the sleigh, whereby the bolster is brought nearer the raves than in the ordinary construction, thus rendering the sleigh less liable to upset, and is kept at a fixed distance from the front bolster, and whereby the rear bob is free to rise and fall over inequalities in the road without moving its bolster back and forth.

Figure l is a side elevation ofthe device applied to a sleigh-bob, showing different positions of the bob in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, with parts broken away to exhibit other parts.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the accompanying drawings, A A represent the raves secured on the frame B, which rests on the runners C. On the faces of these raves A, along their inner edges, are fastened the blocks D D, laterally through which are formed the slots a a, that extend nearly the whole length of the blocks D, and are designed to be about seven inches long and two inches high. These blocks D are preferably :nade of cast-iron.

E represents the rectangular bolster, whose axle E', that is secured to its under side, is also rectangular, with cross-section of about two by two and a half inches, and set on its narrower edge, while the end bearings of said axles E are round, and are covered with iron thimbles b b to prevent Wear upon said bearings. The body of' the axle E rises above the slots a a sufficiently to form shoulders that abut against the blocks D.

F is the rear reach, secured to the bolster E in the usual manner, and G is a forked brace connecting the bolster-axle E with a staple, c, about midway in the under side of the reach F, for staying the parts.

In the ends of the raves A A are rings d d, whereby they are connected, by means of a forked brace, H, with a staple,f, in the forward ond of the reach F, in such a manner that the runners C, with the raves A, are free to slide forward or rearward independently ofthe bolster E and the reach F.

In Fig. l the dotted lines l indicate the p0- sition ofthe rear bob when it is rising over an obstruction, and the dotted lines K indicate its position when descending or falling over an obstruction, and it will be seen that whether the bob be tipped forward or rearward the reach F maintains its horizontal position, and the bolster E does not change its position. As the bob rises the boxes D are carried rearward until the bolster-axle E rests in the front ends of the slots a a, and as the bob falls the axle E rests in the rear ends of the slots a a. As the bolster E does not move back and forth when the sleigh is going over uneven ground, nor tip with the tipping of the runners C, the wear upon a sleigh-box that may be supported on it is practically of no account, and a load can be more easily carried in the sleigh; and as the bolster C is brought lower than usual by being fixed in the blocks D on the raves A, I

the danger of upsetting is materially decreased. Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent- A sled having a rear slide-bolster held at the ends in slotted blocks secured upon the raves, as and for the purpose specified.

HERBERT L. STEELE.

Witnesses JOEL W. STEELE, HARRY G. CHAPIN. 

